I know what you’re thinking, “Really Sara? You packed your lunch.” (Slow clap). But I challenge you to pack your own lunch every day for the next month. See how much money you save, how much less waste you’re throwing away, and how much better you feel from not eating all the nutrient-lacking food from a fast food joint.
When working outside of the home I, too, find it so tempting to eat out for lunch. I try so hard to stay away from fast foods, but sometimes the call of my old ways is too strong.
It’s a vicious cycle.
Spend the money on a quick meal, throw away all the waste associated with it, and then feel terrible for the next few days as my body recovers. The EPA estimates the average American produces roughly 5.9lbs of trash per day. That’s insane! While I am far from living a zero waste lifestyle, I do try to be mindful (And do so without breaking the bank!)
There are so many options for limiting the amount of trash you produce, but most of what’s marketed as “zero waste” is quite expensive. I try to find a good middle ground by reusing and repurposing what we can.
The best way to prevent these indulgences have been to prepare and pack lunch the night before the day I’m scheduled to work to make mornings easier. Last night, we received our Misfits Market order so I had plenty of fresh, organic produce to choose from!
We keep a stock of glass jars from salsas, ghee, sunflower butter, etc. to be reused for other various things around the house.
Fun Fact: Large salsa jars are the perfect size for a lunch salad!
There are affiliate links in this post. Read my disclosure policy to learn more.
Squeezable salad dressing bottles are the perfect alternative to the plastic packets that get tossed right away. You can fill them from a larger bottle or make your own dressing at home (for pennies!)
For cutlery, a set made of bamboo make for a great disposable alternative. I keep them in our van just incase we need to eat on the go unexpectedly.
You don’t have to use a traditional lunch box, either. Cloth grocery bags work well in a pinch. Bryce made one for himself out of scrap wood. I really like the features of this reusable, insulated brown bag but if you prefer prints there are some great options, too!
Some of the fresh vegetables from Misfits Market, simple and homemade dressing, and some leftover pizza from yesterday made a delicious, filling, and healthy meal that won’t lead to any regrets in the near future!